Brake mechanism



July 29, 1941. A. G. FELmmANl BRAKE MECHANISM Original Filed March 6,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Indem MM. wwf M i y .nu o

July 29, 1941. A, FELDM'AN 2,250,990

BRAKE MECHANISM Original Filed Marcrsh 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet' 2 July29, 1941. A. G. FELDMAN BRAKE MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, -1939 4Sheets-Sheet 3 '22 2 Hnnuuumm i Ilz/denim.

' fff//a July 29, 1941- A. G. FELDMAN 2,250,990

` BRAKE MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented` `l'uly 29, 194i BRAKE MECHANISM Abraham G. Feldman,

Storkline Furniture a corporation of Illinois Chicago, Ill., assigner toCorporation, Chicago, Ill.,

Original application March 6, 1939, Serial No.

1240, Serial N0. 335,257

9 Claims. '(Cl. 18S-20) The present invention relates to brakemechanism, and is particularly concerned with brake mechanism for babycarriages.

The present application is a division of my prior application, SerialNo. 260,067, for Baby carriages, filed March 6, 2,208,252, July 16,1940.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedbrake mechanism for baby carriages, which is equally adaptable for babycarriages of the collapsible type or carriages of the type having arigid basket.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedbrake mechanism forE baby carriages which is adapted to simplify theconstruction of the lower wheel frame, and which is provided withseparate actuating means for setting the brake and for releasing thebrake.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved brakemechanism for baby carriages, including separate actuating members forsetting and releasing the brake in the form of levers which are locatedrearwardly of the rear axle and toward the right of the vehicle, inposition to be most readily accessible to the right foot of theoperator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved brakemechanism for baby carriages by means of which brakes are simultaneouslyapplied to two wheels, including an actuating framework for the brakemechanism, by means of which forces applied with levers located at oneside of the vehicle are uniformly distributed and applied to wheels onboth sides of the vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are four sheets,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a baby carriage embodying a brakemechanism constructed according to my invention, with the brakemechanism in the braking position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same brakemechanism in the position which the parts assume when the brake is olf;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line3--3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the brake mechanism viewed froma point below the basket and above the chassis;

1939, Patent No.

Divided and this application May 15,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 1,'

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational vieW of the rear wheels andbrake mechanism, with the parts in the braking position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view, taken on the plane ofthe line 'lof Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View, taken on the plane of the line8--8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The chassis of the baby carriage preferably comprises a pair of wheelaxles 20, 2|, which may consist of steel rods, and a pair of springs 22,23, which may consist of flat steel bands. The axles 20, 2| may besecured to the springs 22, 23 by the U-shaped metal brackets 24, each ofwhich has a pair of laterally projecting attaching flanges 25, rivetedor otherwise secured to the springs 22, 23.

The brackets 211 have the central U-shaped portion of a size adapted tofit about the axles 20, 2|, and of such length that the axle is xedlyclamped to the spring 22 or 23 by bracket 24. Axles 20 and 2| are spacedon springs 22, 23 by a distance slightly greater than the sum of theradii of the wheels 26, in order that the front and rear wheels may bespaced from each other, and in order to make room for the brakemechanism.

The axles 20, 2| are of greater length than the width of the vehicle,and project beyond the spring-s 22, 23 at each side, in order to providesuihcient length of axle to support a wheel at each end of the rods 2t,2|.

Any suitable type of baby carriage wheel may be applied, the type showncomprising a suitable metal hub rotatably mounted on the axle 20, wirespokes, a metal rim, and a solid rubber tire. The ends of the axles 20,2| are provided with transverse apertures for receiving cotter pins,which are used with washers for holding the wheels on the axles, and thecotter pins are covered by suitable stamped sheet metal shields.

In addition to the axles and springs, the chassis also preferablyincludes the brake beam 2l, comprising a pair of steel bands which areriveted together at the center by rivet 28 and which are secured andpivotally mounted on the springs 22, 23 by rivets 29, as shown in Fig.3.

In order to have the brake beam in propel' position to flex and engagethe wheels at its flat end portions 30, it is disposed in the verticalplane and has a pair of ninety degree twisted portions 3|, 32 adjacenteach spring, bringing the portion 33 into parallelism with the adjacentspring to be secured by rivet 29.

The bands of which the brake beam is made overlap each other at themiddle, the end of each band extending to the point 34 adjacent theopposite side of the carriage so that the brake beam is doubled inthickness throughout the major portion of the beam, to give it greaterstillness.

Rivets 29 are preferably located on the springs 22, 23 so that the endportion 3B will be closely adjacent to the front wheels when the brakebeam is straight, and so that the end portion 3U may be brought intotight engagement with the wheels when the brake beam is bent backwardly.

The brake beam 2'! is adapted to be actuated by a mechanism which isshown in Figs. 3 to 8. This mechanism includes a connecting rod 35,which may take the form of a flat band of steel pivotally secured byrivet 35 to one ange of an angle bracket 31, the other flange of whichis carried by rivet 23 on the brake beam.

The opposite end of connecting rod or band 35 is pivotally secured byrivet 38 to the centrally located leg 39 of a pivotally mounted frame,indicated in its entirety by the numeral 45. In order to avoidinterference between connecting rod 35 and axle 20 (Fig. 1), theconnecting rod is bent diagonally upward at 4 l.

The frame 4D preferably comprises a pair of horizontal straps of metal42, 43 joined by the three legs 44, 45, and 39, and the two end legs 44,45 may comprise an integral part of transverse strap member 42. The endlegs 44, 45 are secured to strap member 4.0 by having laterally turnedportions which are riveted at 46 to the band 40.

The leg 3E!` may be made shorter than the legs 44, 45, and the side 42may be caused to bend inward so as to form the frame with a pair of feet|52 at the right hand corners (Fig. 6) for the bottom of the frame inFig. 1. These corners are spaced from the floor or roadway a slightdistance, such as a quarter of an inch, when the frame is in theAposition of Fig. 1, so that the frame may serve as a guard against theupsetting of the vehicle by pivoting on the axle 2U.

A pair of trunnions 46, one at each end of the frame, are riveted in theend frame members 44, 45 and pivotally mounted in angle brackets 41carried by the springs 22 and 23.

Brackets 47 form bearings for the trunnions 4S and are riveted to thesprings 22, 23 at a point rearwardly of the rear wheel axle 2l). The

frame 40 is thus pivotally mounted on the springs and adapted to swingdownward to the position of Fig. 1, where it may also be utilized toprevent tipping of the carriage when the rear wheels are used as apivot. The frame 40 is particularly adapted to be utilized in actuatingthe brake beam 2l and to take from the wheel axles 2D, 2| the strainwhich would otherwise be placed upon them if they were used for mountingthe brake.

actuating mechanism.

Where such brake actuating mechanism is mounted upon a relativelyslender brake axle to effect a bending, there is a tendency to bow theaxle and cock the wheels inward at one end. This tendency is augmentedwhen the brake beam is relatively stiff.

In the brake mechanism constructed according to the presentv inventionthis tendency to bow the axle is eliminated by the use of a rela,-

tively stiff frame for actuating the brake mechanism.

In the present case the frame 40 is connected by a connecting rod 35 tothe brake beam at the point 38 on leg 39, and the frame is adapted to beutilized to permit the location of foot pedals at any desired point; forexample, in the preferred embodiment the frame 4U (Fig. 4) is pivotallyconnected by a rivet at 48 to a release lever 49 having a twistedextension 5B, which serves as a foot pedal. The other end of the releaselever 49 is pivotally connected by a rivet at 5I to a brake lever 52(Fig. 3), which is pivotally mounted on the axle 20.

The brake lever 52 and the lever 49 are covered at the point of theirpivotal connection, rivet 5l, with a U-shaped stop member 53, whichprevents vthem from passing beyond the position of Fig. 1.

Brake lever 52 is pivotally mounted on the axle 20 by means of aU-shaped stirrup 54, having an aperture in each of its legs forreceiving the axle 20. The brake lever 52 is fixedly secured to theU-shaped member 54 by having its end riveted to one of the legs of the.Uv-shaped member 54, having a pair of legs 55, and the brake lever 56likewise has its end riveted to the opposite leg of the U-shaped member5,4 bya pair of rivets. The legs of the U-shaped member 54 are disposedon opposite sides. of the spring 22, and the yoke of the U-shaped memberdepends from the axle 2l).

In eifect, the brake lever 52 and the, brake pedal 55 move as one lever,but the brake lever 55 is disposed outside the spring, whereas the brakelever 52 is disposed inside o the spring 22. The brake lever 5 5 may beturned laterally and twisted to provide a horizontally extending endportion 58 for engagement, with the foot.

The operation of thebrake, and its mechanism is as follows: When theparts` are in the position of Fig. 4, the brake isv oi, but the brakemay be applied by merely stepping upon the lateral extension 58l of thebrake pedal 55, which will cause the brake pedal 55 to pivot. in aclockwise direction on the axle 2E). Due to the fixed connection 54, 55between the brake pedal 5,6 and the lever 52, the lever 52` pivotssimultaneously in the samey direction, and the lever 4S; moves the frame40 downward, the frame 45. pivoting in a countercloclcwise direction,as4 seen in Fig. 4. This downward rflQYement of the frame 4.0 continuesuntil it` reaches the position of Fig. 1, where the lever 4S and brakepedal 52 have passed the position of alignment, andthe release lever 49extends slightly upward of the end of the brake pedal, as Vshown in Fig.1.

Duringq this'motion of the frame .4.9. the point of pivotal connection38: of the connecting. rod 35 to the legl 39. moves in an arc, asshownby the arrow in Fig. 1, and it will be noted that this point ofpivotal connection 3 8; is slightly below the axis of pivot 46 of theframe 40,. 'IhusA the pivotal movement-ofthe frame 40 exercises aY pullon the connecting rod 35, which eifects a bending backward of the middleof the brakebeam21 and a bending forward of its ends 3l).

The ends 30 or shoes of the brake beam engage the front wheelsV 25, andthus the brake is applied to the wheels. The brake beam 21 resists thismovement of theoframe 4Q and resists the downward movement of the brakepedal A56 until the levers 52 and 49, parts of which act as a toggle,pass the dead center posit-ion; that is, the center of pivot (Fig. 1)-`passes-to a -point below the line of centers` of the axle 20 and theaxis 40.

Thereafter the pull on the connecting rod 35 (Fig. l) which is exertedby the bent brake beam 21, and the compression of the rubber on thewheels against the brake shoe 30, tends to pull the toggle dit, 52 downfarther in Fig. 1, but this is resisted by the U-shaped stop member 53,the yoke of which engages both of the levers 49, 52.

It should be noted that the U-shaped stop member 53 is pivotally mountedon the rivet 5|. The brake may be released by merely pressing downwardwith the foot upon the brake release lever at the point t. This causes aCounterclockwise movement of the brake lever 49 on the pivot 38 andtends to move the pivot 5! upward to brake the toggle.

As soon as 5I has passed the line of centers 8-2l, the action of thebrake beam moves the parts back to the position of Fig. 1.

The present brake mechanism has the advantage that it is positive, andwithout providing more than one brake beam it is possible to apply abraking force to the front wheels and also to utilize the frame memberit to prevent tippingof the carriage.

The brake pedals in the present brake mechanism may be arranged at theside of the vehicle, where they are most conveniently operated by thefoot, and they may be located rearwardly oi' the rear axle at a pointadjacent the rear end of the basket, so that the operator can see thebrake pedal and brake release pedal, and need not move backward of thecarriage to peer under it when actuating these levers.

The present brake mechanism may be utilized on various types of babycarriages, including collapsible carriages and carriages having a rigidbasket.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved brakemechanism for baby carriages, which is adapted to be applied by the useof one lever and released by another lever, both of which may beconveniently disposed at the rear of the carriage, toward the right, foractuation by the right foot. Both of these levers are actuated by thesole of the shoe, and it is not necessary to utilize the upper part ofthe shoe in any case, as has been necessary in some of the devices ofthe prior art.

The present brake actuating mechanism distributes the forces applied tothe brakes uniformly to both sides of the chassis, and is adapted tooperate without bending the relatively thin axles which would otherwiseresult in a misalignment of the wheels. The present mechanism may bemanufactured at a very low cost so that its benefits may be realized bya greater number of the purchasing public.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages and the like, the combinationof a chassis comprising a pair of longitudinally extending frame memberswith a pair of wheels supported by an axle carried by said framemembers, a brake beam extending transversely of said frame members andhaving pivotal points of connection with said frame members, a brakeactuating frame pivot-ally mounted on said frame members and having alconnecting rod pivotally connected thereto, said connecting rodextending to a central partof said brake beam, to which it is pivotallyconnected, whereby the frame is adapted to actu-ate said brake beam andbend said brake beam at the middle to cause its ends to flex intoengagement with the wheels, a brake actuating lever pivotally mounted onsaid chassis and having a connection to said brake actuating framewhereby the actuation of said lever is adapted to move said frame intobrake actuating position, said connection including a brake releaselever having a projecting extension for engagement with the foot, saidextension serving as a release lever.v

2. In a brake actuating mechanism, the combination of a chassis frameincluding a pair of longitudinally extending frame members and a pair ofaxles, a brake actuating frame pivotally mounted on said frame membersat its ends and adapted to be moved from an upper position to alowermost position where it is adapted to serve to prevent endwisetipping of the carriage, a brake actuating lever pivotally mounted onone of said axles and having a pivotal connection with a brake releasinglever, said brake releasing lever being pivotally secured to saidactuating frame and said brake releasing lever and brake actuating leverserving as a toggle to permit application of a larger force to thebrake, said pivotal connection between the brake actuating lever andbrake releasing lever being provided with stop means for holding saidtoggle at a point past dead center in the braking position, said stopmeans comprising a U-shaped member carried by a pintle for pivotingbrake actuating and brake releasing levers together.

3. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassiscomprising a pair of springs extending longitudinally of the chassis, apair of axles extending transversely of the chassis, wheels carried byeach end of each axle, a brake beam extending transversely of the springmembers and pivotally connected to each of them, said brake beam havingits ends loc-ated adjacent the rims of two wheels, a pivot bracketcarried by the center of said brake beam, a connecting rod pivotallysecured to said bracket,'a brake actuating frame having its endspivotally secured to said springs rearwardly of the rear axle, saidframe havinga centrally located frame member, and means for pivotallyconnecting said connecting rod to said centrally located frame memberwhereby the movement of the brake frame applies the brake uniformly bycentral flexure to the two `adjacent wheels, a pair of toggle leverspivotally connected together and having one lever pivotally mounted on arear axle and the other lever pivo-tally mounted on said frame forholding the frame in brake actuating position.

4. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassiscomprising a pair of springs extending longitudinally of the chassis, a`pair of axles extending transversely of the chassis, wheels carried byeach end of each axle, a brake beam extending transversely of the springmembers and pivotally connected to each of them, said brake beam havingits ends located adjacent the rims of two wheels, a pivot bracketcarried by the center of said brake beam, a connecting rod pivotallysecured to said bracket, a brake actuating frame having its endspivotally secured to said springs rearwardly of the rear axle, saidframe having a centrally located frame member, and means for pivotallyconnecting said connecting rod to said centrally located frame memberwhereby the movement of the brake frame applies the brake uniformly bycentral ilexure to the two adjacent wheels, a pair of toggle leverspivotally connected together and having one lever pivotally mounted on arear axle and the other lever pivotally mounted on said frame forholding the frame in brake actuating position, one of said toggle levershaving an extension projecting beyond the pivotal connection with saidframe serving as a release lever.

5. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassiscomprising a pair of springs extending longitudinally of the chassis, apair of axles extending transversely of the chassis, wheels carried byeach end of each axle, a brake beam extending transversely of the springmembers and pivotally connected to each of them, said brake beam havingits ends located adjacent the rims of two wheels, a pivot bracketcarried by the center of said brake beam, a connecting rod pivotallysecured to said bracket, a brake actuating frame having its endspivotally secured to said springs rearwardly of the Arear axle, saidfra-me having a centrally located frame member, and means for pivotallyconnecting said connecting rod to said centrally located frame memberwhereby the movement of the brake frame applies the brake uniformly bycentral lexure `to the two adjacent wheels, a pair of toggle leverspivotally connected together and having one lever pivotally mounted on arear axle and the other lever pivotally mounted on said frame forholding the frame in brake actuating position, one of said toggle levershaving an extension projecting beyond the pivotal connection with saidframe serving as a release lever, and stop means for holding said togglelevers in a position past dead center, comprising a U- shaped clipsecured to the levers at their point of pivotal connection.

6. In a brake mechanism forV baby carriages,-

the combination of a chassis comprising a pair of springs extendinglongitudinally of the chassis, a pair of axles extending transversely ofthe chassis, wheels carried by each end of each axle,

va brake beam extending transversely of the spring members and pivotallyconnected to each of them, said brake beam having its ends locatedadjacent the rims of two wheels, a pivot bracket carried by the centerof said brake beam, a connecting rod pivotally secured to said bracket abrake actuating frame having its ends pivotally secured to said springsrearwardly of the rear axle, said frame having a centrally located framemember, and means for pivotally connecting said connecting rod to saidcentrally located frame member whereby the movement of the brake frameapplies the brake uniformly by central exure to the two adjacent wheels,a pair of toggle levers pivotally connected together and having onelever pivotally mounted on a rear axle and the other lever pivotallymounted on said frame for holding the frame in brake actuating position,one of said toggle levers having an extension projecting beyond thepivotal connection with said frame serving as a release lever, and stopmeansfor holding said toggle levers in a position past dead center,comprising a U-shaped clip secured to the levers at their point ofpivotal connection,

and a second brake actuating lever xedly secured to one of said togglelevers in such manner as to permit a downward actuation of the brakeactuating lever to apply the brakes.

7. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassisincluding a pair of wheels and a pivotally mounted frame with a bendablebrake beam carried by said frame and having ends located adjacent theperipheries of two wheels, a pair of brake levers carried by saidchassis and located rearwardly of the rear Wheel, and having one side ofsaid frame provided with operative mechanical connections between saidlevers and said brake beam whereby actuation of one lever is adapted totension the brake beam and apply the brakes and secure the brakes insuch position, and the actuation of the other lever is adapted torelease the brakes.

8. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassisincluding a pair of wheel-supporting axles and wheels on said axles withmeans for securing said axles together and a brake shoe for engaging oneof said wheels, a connecting member for actuating said brake shoe, saidconnecting member extending toward the rear of the chassis, said brakeactuating member being pivotally connected to a transversely extending'frame member, said frame member being pivotally mounted on saidchassis, a toggle member pivotally mounted on said chassis and havingpivotal engagement with a second toggle member, said second togglemember being pivotally secured to said transverse frame member, a stopmember carried by the pivotal connection of said two toggle members forlimiting their pivotal movement to a position past dead center, saidbrake actuating member being located adjacent the middle part of saidchassis and said transverse frame member having engagement with one ofsaid toggle members located adjacent one of the sides of the chassis.

9. In a brake mechanism for baby carriages, the combination of a chassisincluding a pair of wheel-supporting axles and wheels on said axles withmeans for securing said axles together and a brake shoe for engaging oneof said wheels, a connecting member for actuating said brake shoe, saidconnecting member extending toward the rear of the chassis, said brakeactuating member being pivotally connected to a transversely extendingframe member, said frame member being pivotally mounted on said chassis,a toggle member pivotally mounted on said chassis and having pivotalengagement with a second toggle member, said second toggle member beingpivotally secured to said transverse frame member, a stop member carriedby the pivotal connection of said two toggle members for limiting theirpivotal movement to a position past dead center, said brake actuatingmember being located adjacent the middle part of said chassis and saidtransverse frame member having engagement with one of said togglemembers located adjacent one of the sides of the chassis, one of saidtoggle members extending rearwardly from said stop member, having anextension to be engaged by the foot for unlatching the toggle and theother of said toggle members being xedly secured to a second leverpivotally mounted on said chassis and also extending rearwardly forengagement with the foot for effecting a latching of the toggle.

ABRAHAM G. FELDMAN.

